Amigos for Kids is a non-profit corporation dedicated to meeting the needs of South Florida’s abused, neglected, and less fortunate children. Every December, the organization caps off its activities with an annual toy drive, collecting and delivering donated gifts to help bring a bit of holiday cheer to thousands of children in the area. Generous volunteers and corporate sponsors join in to make the drive a success.

“This year, I’m proud to say that the College of Business Administration participated in the Amigos for Kids toy drive,” said Maria Sierra (BBA ’02), program assistant in the Executive and Professional MBA office, who coordinated the effort for the college.

She spread the word about the drive through an email campaign distributed to colleagues and students. The message included a list of suggested gift ideas for babies, boys, girls, and teens.

When asked what motivated her to organize the Amigos for Kids toy drive at the college, Sierra said that she had attended a few of the organization’s events and wanted to join in “to help make a difference and give back to the community.”

Generosity helps make holiday wishes come true.

The Amigos for Kids annual toy drive is unique in that it aims to fulfill the specific wishes of each individual child.

“Our community was generous, as the donation box outside my office was filled with toys, just in time for the Amigos for Kids volunteers to pick them up and distribute them throughout the third weekend of December,” Sierra said. “I’m sure the children were very happy to receive such wonderful gifts. You can just imagine the smiles on their faces.”

Noting that this was the first time that the business school has participated in the Amigos for Kids holiday toy drive, Sierra hopes to build on the initial exposure and have the college participate again next year.

To find out more about Amigos for Kids, visit: http://www.amigosforkids.org/